By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Kenya and the European Union
(EU) are exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation in education,
science, research and innovation, with a focus on research partnerships,
sustainable financing, technology transfer and the commercialisation of innovations.
The discussions were held
between Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the State Department for Science,
Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, and the EU’s Education and
Science Counsellors.
In a statement following the
engagement, Prof. Abdulrazak said the discussions focused on the outcomes of
the inaugural Science, Research, Innovation and Technology Week for Society
(STRI4Society), planned follow-up activities and opportunities to deepen
strategic collaboration between Kenya and the EU.
The meeting also explored
ways to strengthen institutional and human capacity, mobilise sustainable
research financing and translate scientific knowledge into innovations that
address societal challenges.
“As Kenya advances towards a
knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy, strategic international partnerships
will be critical in connecting our researchers, universities, industries and
innovators to global opportunities,” Prof. Abdulrazak said.
He emphasised the need to
move beyond agreements in principle towards practical implementation,
measurable outcomes and partnerships that create jobs, empower young people and
contribute to sustainable development.
The discussions also covered
the implementation of the SRI synergy blueprint, the Bioeconomy Strategy, the
Grand Challenge Initiative and cluster development, alongside efforts to
strengthen synergies in research and innovation and accelerate the commercialisation
of research outputs.
The Kenya National
Innovation Agency (KeNIA), the National Commission for Science and Technology
(NACOSTI), the Science for Africa Foundation and Horizon Europe were among the
institutions referenced in connection with the cooperation agenda.
